Six share Houston Open lead

Jason Gore got a boost from the Rocket in the Houston Open at Humble, Texas.

Wearing a black Houston Astros cap that Roger Clemens gave him, Gore shot a four-under-par 68 on Friday to join a six-player logjam at the top.

Defending champion Stuart Appleby (72), Bubba Watson (67), D.J. Brigman (68), Bob Estes (71)and Jeff Maggert (71) also were at six-under 138 after two rounds.

Hunter Mahan (71), Tommy Armour III (71) and Tom Byrum (68) were one shot back.

Gore, who has a Boston Red Sox jersey at home that Clemens once autographed, first formally met his boyhood idol two years ago at the ADT Skills Challenge and the two became friends.

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Brad Bryant had an eagle and four birdies during a six-hole stretch to earn a share of the first-round lead with Keith Fergus in the Champions Tour’s Ginn Championship at Palm Coast, Fla.

Bryant finished with a five-under 67. Fergus, one of three players who didn’t bogey a hole, made a 14-foot putt for eagle at the par-five 10th.

Raymond Floyd, a four-time major champion, flirted with shooting his age of 64 before settling for a 68 to tie Des Smyth, R.W. Eaks and Joe Ozaki.